Scheme for operating a wireless station having directional antennas

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless station having a receiver and a network allocation vector associated with each of a plurality of directional antennas. The receivers concurrently listen for frames from remote stations. When any receiver detects a frame from a remote station, the receiver activates its associated NAV. The station has one or more transmitters that can transmit using the antennas. While transmitting a signal using an antenna, the receivers associated with any non-transmitting antennas continue to listen for signals from remote stations. The station cancels any signals from the transmitting antenna received by the non-transmitting antennas. To perform the cancellation, the station performs a self-calibration procedure. The station can self-calibrate by either silencing neighboring stations or by inserting null tones into a transmitted calibration signal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 669,381, filed Apr. 8, 2005, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is directed to wireless networking. Specifically, the invention pertains to a method of operating a wireless station using directional antennas. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Wireless networks have enjoyed tremendous popularity in recent years. A consequence of increasing deployment of wireless networks, coupled with limited number of channels and unlicensed spectrum usage, is that the interference between transmissions is becoming a serious problem. [0006] Using directional (or sectorized) antennas is a method to reduce the interference and to increase the range and the capacity for wireless networks. In general, n...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a method for operating a wireless station with multiple directional antennas. The station has a receiver for each antenna and a backoff timer associated with each receiver. When a receiver receives a signal from a remote station, the backoff timer is activated. The station can also store information about the quality of the signal received and update it based on a timer. The station can transmit signals using the multiple antennas, and if another antenna receives the same signal, the station can cancel the signal. The station can also perform self-calibration by silencing neighboring stations and transmitting signals from each antenna. The technical effects of this invention include improved signal quality, better signal coverage, and reduced interference between signals.

Problems solved by technology

A consequence of increasing deployment of wireless networks, coupled with limited number of channels and unlicensed spectrum usage, is that the interference between transmissions is becoming a serious problem.

However, the original 802.11 protocol was not designed for directional antennas.

When directional antennas are used, new problems such as the enhanced hidden station problem and the deafness problem, arise.

They increase the likelihood of collisions.

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